Balance | Old Version

Chapter 108

Elua's POV.

"We're almost there," Suki says as she points to the gondola. Guards turn in our direction, spotting us and beginning to firebend at us. Before the flames hit everyone, Zuko and I dissipate the fireblasts.
"Back off, we've got the Warden," Zuko tells the guards as he steps aside to show them the Warden being carried by Chit Sang. The guards all look at each other shocked and unsure, but they step aside and allow us to get through.
"Let's go," I say as all we run on to the gondola. Zuko pulls the lever and the gondola starts to move, he begins to kick the lever until it breaks.

 He looks behind him as the guards begin to run forward, but before they can catch him, he jumps towards the gondola. Sokka grabs Zuko's hand and helps him up into the gondola.
"What are you doing?" Sokka asks in confusion.
"I'm making it so they can't stop us," Zuko states.
"Way to think ahead," Sokka says impressed.
"We're on our way," Suki says as she looks up at the other side of the gondola line.
"Wait. Who's that?" Hakoda asks as he points to something behind us. We all look over and see Azula, Ty Lee and some guards back at the gondola tower staring in our direction.

"That's a problem. It's my sister and her friend," Zuko states. Suddenly, Ty Lee cartwheels onto the wires of the gondola and starts to run on them while Azula firebends a huge jet of blue fire and launches herself from the ground into the air.
"This is a rematch I've been waiting for," Suki states angrily.
"Me too," Zuko and I say at the same time. We jump onto the top of the gondola as Ty Lee and Azula land. We all take fighting stances as Azula stands in front of us and Ty Lee stands behind. Suddenly, Suki attacks Ty Lee as Azula attacks us. Azula sends a blast of fire at us, but Zuko blocks it. Sokka tries to hit her with his sword, but she dodges out of the way. I send a blast of air at her but she moves out of the way of it and firebends at me, I bend the fire out of the way before it hits me.

Suddenly, the gondola stops abruptly making it rock and everyone almost loses their balance. I whip my head around as I hear Sokka shouting to see him slipping and trying to catch himself.
"Sokka!" I shout as I go to help him, but Zuko grabs his hand, right before he falls.
"They're about to cut the line!" Ty Lee shouts to Azula.
"Then it's time to leave," Azula says as we see another gondola coming down from the mainland. "Goodbye Zuko," She says smirking as she and Ty Lee jump off our gondola and onto the other. We all jump back down into the gondola as it rocks again and begins to move. I look over to the prison and see Mae standing around guards that are now on the floor.
"I think your girlfriend just saved us," I tell Zuko, he follows my gaze and stares in shock.
"Who's that?" Sokka asks.
"It's Mae," Zuko states as the tiniest smile forms on his face.

The gondola comes to a stop and we quickly begin to run off of it. Chit Sang throws the Warden back into the gondola and we quickly begin to walk away.
"Well, we made it out. Now what?" Suki asks as we walk up a rocky hill. Zuko suddenly stops walking and we all turn to him confused.
"Zuko, what are you doing?" Sokka asks.
"My sister was on that island," Zuko states.
"Yeah and she's probably right behind us. So, let's not stop," Sokka says.
"So, she must have come here somehow," I say, catching on to what Zuko means. We follow Zuko as he walks over to a cliffside and looks around.
"There. That's our way out of here," Zuko says as he points to big war balloon down by the ocean.

That Night.

By the time the war balloon we had taken from Azula docked, it was late at night and the others were standing in front of us.
"What are you doing in this thing? What happened to the war balloon?" Katara asks in confusion.
"It kind of got destroyed," Zuko states.
"Sounds like a crazy fishing trip," Aang says with a smile.
"Did you at least get some good meat?" Toph asks in hope.
"I did. The best meat of all. The meat of friendship and fatherhood," Sokka says smiling as Suki and Hokoda walk-off the airship, Chit Sang behind them.
"I'm new. What's up, everybody?" Chit Sang says with a smile.
"Dad," Katara says, tears welling in her eyes as she runs over and hugs her father.

"Hi, Katara," Hokoda says with a wide smile.
"How are you here? What is going on? Where did you go?" Katara asks us.
"We...kind of went to a Fire Nation prison," Sokka says nervously, but Katara doesn't seem to care where we had gone as she pulls Sokka into te hug and they hug their father together. I look over to Aang as he walks over to me.
"I was wondering why you would go on a fishing trip," Aang states.
"Did you find the note Zuko left?" I ask him, his shoulders slump and he sighs.
"Yes," He groans in annoyance, making me laugh.
"Seriously, you guys didn't find any meat?" Toph asks and everyone laughs, happy to be back together.